Tsunami (pronounced tsoo-NAH-mee) is a Japanese word meaning "harbor wave." A tsunami is a wave or series of waves that are generated in a body of water by a sudden disturbance that displaces water. They are typically caused by earthquakes and landslides in coastal regions. Volcanic eruptions, nuclear explosions, and even impact of meteorites, asteroids, and comets from outer space can generate a tsunami.

The latest Tsunami (2004 December 26 00:58:49 UTC [07:58:49 local time in Jakarta and Bangkok]) came just three days after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in a completely uninhabited region west of New Zealand's Auckland Islands, and north of Australia's Macquarie Island. Also the earthquake struck almost exactly one year (within an hour) after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake killed an estimated 30,000 people in the city of Bam in Iran (2003 December 26 01:56:52 UTC) . For more information try Wikipedia

"Prime Minister" Sonia

We are happy to see that at least one Newspaper in India has the guts to identify the real Prime Minister, and print it at the top of their front page. But, knowing the history of the newspaper group, it came as no surprise. This came at the same time when Rediff ran an article saying PVN Rao, a former Prime Minister, was denied a state funeral in the capital by Sonia Gandhi.

Global Warming..

First snow falls in the UAE : Dec 28, 2004 Not yet considered a skiing holiday destination, the UAE saw its first snow in living memory yesterday in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. Temperatures fell below zero at night and left a 1km stretch of mountains dusted with snow. Local residents thought the phenomenon must be linked to the recent tidal waves in Asia.

Thaw sees grass take hold in Antarctica: Dec 18, 2004 GRASS has become established in Antarctica, showing the continent is warming to temperatures unseen for 10,000 years. Scientists have reported that broad areas of grass are now forming turf where there were once ice-sheets and glaciers. Tufts have previously grown on patches of Antarctica in summer, but the scientists have now observed larger areas surviving winter and spreading in the summer months. Some fear the change portends a much wider melting of the ice-cap that formed at least 20 million years ago.

Colored rain in Kerala: July 18, 2001 Scientists in the southern Indian state of Kerala have begun examining an unusual phenomenon: coloured rainfall in some parts of the state. Its southern and central districts have witnessed spells of coloured rain over the past week, prompting researchers to launch a formal investigation. BBCOne possible theory: ....while these extreme hyperthermophiles contain proteins, our study shows the absence of DNA in these organisms, indicating a new primitive domain of life with alternate thermostable genetics. This new biology proves our earlier hypothesis that these microbes are of extraterrestrial origin and also supports our earlier argument that the mysterious red rain of Kerala is due to the cometary delivery of the red spores into the stratosphere above Kerala... sciscoop.com

The times we live in

US and Airport Security The federal agency in charge of airline screening yesterday (Dec 22 2004) changed its policy on patdowns, in part because of complaints by women passengers about searches of their chests. From now on, screeners are to use the back of the hand when screening sensitive body areas, which include the breasts (females only), genitals, and buttocks. TSA said this will make the experience more comfortable for women. Really?!